The Association Between Low Maternal Serum Magnesium Levels and Preterm Labor

Background and objective: Preterm labor is the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity, which can be attributed to various factors. The specific effects of magnesium sulfate in preterm labor include its function as a tocolytic agent, suppressing uterine contractions to delay delivery and allow time for administering corticosteroids, which aid in fetal lung maturation. This study aimed to determine the association between premature labor and blood magnesium levels. Methods: The present study was a case-control study conducted at the Sulaymaniyah Maternity Teaching Hospital in Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, over a period of one year, from May 1, 2022, to April 31, 2023. One hundred pregnant women who presented to the labor ward with contractions were divided into two study groups: 50 pregnant women delivered before 36+6 weeks (case group) and 50 pregnant women delivered after 37 weeks (control group). Magnesium blood levels were measured in both groups. Results: Forty percent of patients exhibited varying degrees of hypomagnesaemia. It was observed that 56% of the case group had serum magnesium levels below 1.6 mg/dl, while only 24% of control patients had such low serum magnesium levels. The relative risks indicated that patients with low serum magnesium concentrations (<1.6 mg/dl) had a 2.333 times higher risk of preterm delivery compared to those with normal magnesium levels. Conclusion: Pregnant women with low serum magnesium levels are at an increased risk of experiencing preterm labor.